Classic Movies of the 1980's: Grave of the Fireflies

To what extent Grave of the Fireflies (1988) is a "Classic of the 1980's" I'm not so sure. But what I am sure about is that the film is a classic with regards to its genre and even on that level Grave of the Fireflies so thoroughly surpasses anything that has ever been attempted in an animated film that it's unfortunate that this film has not achieved the same status in the United States that it has achieved in Japan and Europe.

I have written about animation before and my biggest gripe about American animation has always been the limitations of the subject matter. The Lion King and its ilk are all fine, but how about something that viewers can really sink their teeth into.

Grave of the Fireflies is that film

Grave of the Fireflies is set during the end of WWII. The beginning of the movie is actually the end of the story. It flashes to the memories of a young boy named Seita back to the times when he was struggling to survive along with his little sister, Setsuko. This is a tough film visually and especially emotionally. And I dare anyone to tell me they were not choked up by this visual masterpiece. Especially the ending.

Grave of the Fireflies was produced by Studio Ghibli. The same studio that produce d Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke. And if you missed THOSE films than you've got some catching up to do.

Roger Ebert summed it up perfectly in a review from the time: "...There is great beauty in them--not cartoon beauty, but evocative landscape drawing, put through the filter of animated style. The characters are typical of much modern Japanese animation, with their enormous eyes, childlike bodies and features of great plasticity (mouths are tiny when closed, but enormous when opened in a child's cry--we even see Setsuko's tonsils). This film proves, if it needs proving, that animation produces emotional effects not by reproducing reality, but by heightening and simplifying it, so that many of the sequences are about ideas, not experiences...."

Grave of the Fireflies has no singing animals or comedic sidekicks. No princess waiting to be rescued. It is an emotionally taxing film that should be required viewing for students (over 15 years old IMHO) during their history studies of WWII or any war for that matter. I would also recommend watching the film in Japanese with English subtitles because even the English dubbed version just does not due Grave of the Fireflies justice.

A classic of the 1980's? I saw it way back in the day in an theatre that showed "art films" and it completely blew me away. Grave of the Fireflies is unforgettable and that makes it a classic in my eyes. Check it out and bring a hankerchief.

Grave of the Fireflies can be ordered through the following sites:

http://www.amazon.com/s/qid=1236158455/ref=a9_sc_1?ie=UTF8&search-alias=dvd&field-keywords=grave%20of%20the%20fireflies

http://www.zillion.co.nz/listing/7790267

http://www.blockbuster.com/movies/grave-of-the-fireflies.html

http://www.rightstuf.com/1-800-338-6827/catalogmgr/cXGRiprSmHihqnqujf/browse/item/57748/4/0/0

http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/gravefirefliesce.php